Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Big 12 Championship
Cowboys Wrestling Claims Big 12 Title
March 11, 2004 | Cowboy Wrestling
Nebraska came in second with 55.5 points, while Iowa State chipped in 46.5 points for third. Missouri and Oklahoma rounded out the conference standings with 43 and 37.5 points, respectively.
Johnny Thompson became the third four-time Big 12 champion after his victory over Zach Roberson. After trading escapes in the second and third periods, Thompson caught Roberson in a snake with 28 seconds left to record the fall.
Zack Esposito recorded his first conference championship with a 7-5 decision over Travis Shufelt. The Three Bridges, N.J., native recorded a trio of takedowns en route to his victory.
Tyrone Lewis notched his second conference title in his career with a 12-4 major decision over Jacob Klein. Lewis recorded three takedowns in the first period to take a quick 6-2 lead. The El Reno, Okla., native built on his lead to 8-3 after two periods, and secured the major with a final takedown in the third period.
Jake Rosholt used a come-from-behind win to earn his first conference championship. Rosholt fell behind early to Matt Pell 4-2 before coming back to record a takedown with a pair of back points to close the second period. He then extended his lead to 7-5 with an escape to open the third. The defending NCAA champion built up a 9-6 lead before winning 11-6.
Johny Hendricks, Chris Pendleton, Rusty Blackmon and Will Gruenwald recorded second-place finishes for the Cowboys. Hendricks dropped a 3-2 decision to Kenny Burleson, while Pendleton fell for the first time this year after his 9-7 loss to Ben Askren.
Blackmon dropped a close 2-1 decision to Jeff Foust, while Gruenwald fell 5-1 to Leonce Crump.
Cody Stites and Ronnie Delk each notched fourth-place finishes. Stites defeated Austin DeVoe of Missouri, 3-0, in the consolation semifinals before falling to Iowa State's Grant Nakamura, 4-2, in the 30-second overtime.
Delk took Ware to his third overtime match of the tournament. Each recorded three escapes throughout the match, but the deciding factor was Ware's accumlated riding time throughout the 30-second overtimes.
Results OSU 86.5 NU 55.5 ISU 46.5 MU 43 OU 37.5
Finals 133 - Johnny Thompson (OSU) fall Zach Roberson (ISU), 6:32 149 - Zack Esposito (OSU) dec. Travis Shufelt (NU), 7-5 157 - Kenny Burleson (MU) dec. Johny Hendricks (OSU), 3-2 165 - Tyrone Lewis (OSU) m.d. Jacob Klein (NU), 12-4 174 - Ben Askren (MU) dec. Chris Pendleton (OSU), 9-7 184 - Jake Rosholt (OSU) dec. Matt Pell (MU), 11-6 197 - Jeff Foust (MU) dec. Rusty Blackmon (OSU0, 2-1 285 - Leonce Crump (OU) dec. Will Gruenwald (OSU), 5-1
Consolation Semifinals 125 - Cody Stites (OSU) dec. Austin DeVoe (MU), 3-0
Third-place match 125 - Grant Nakamura (ISU) dec. Cody Stites (OSU), 4-2, t.b. 141 - Teyon Ware (OU) dec. Ronnie Delk (OSU), 3-3 2tb
